Nickelodeon Reaches Record High Ratings

In July, Nickelodeon saw the most-watched month ever in its 21-year history. The numbers were the biggest on a total-day basis in household delivery, total viewers (persons 2+) and among kids 2-11. According to the Nielsens, Nickelodeon's 24-hour average in July was a 1.7 coverage rating/5 share/1.3 million HH (1.7 million average total viewers). During Nickelodeon's Kids Day programming, the net posted its highest-rated month among kids 2-11 since January '98 and delivered its largest kid audience ever. In addition, Nick crushed its closest competitors. On a 24-hour average, Nickelodeon outperformed Cartoon Network (1.3 coverage rating and 823,000 HH) by 29% in rating and 57% in HH delivery, and TBS (1.1 coverage rating and 895,000 HH) by 48% in rating and 44% in delivery. Contributing to Nickelodeon's success was the network's new Summer Splash programming block, airing weekdays from 2-5 pm. The new block features RUGRATS, ROCKET POWER, THE WILD THORNBERRYS, HEY, ARNOLD and CATDOG. Also in July, Nickelodeon continued as the number-one network on Saturday mornings for the fourth consecutive month. According to the Nielsens, Saturdays from 8 am - 12 pm (ET/PT), the kids network posted a 4.1 national rating/21 share (1.6 million kid viewers). Nick also generated eight of the top-ten Saturday-morning programs in July, led by the 9:30 am airing of long-lasting RUGRATS (5.2 national rating/24 share and 2.1 million kid viewers). For the month of July, the 9 am RUGRATS (4.2 national rating/20 share and 1.7 million kid viewers) beat POKEMON (2.5 national rating/14 share and 1.0 million kid viewers) in head to head competition.